*****

Alisa LeBeau quietly sat in her bedroom at St.Mary's
Hospital For The Mentally Challenged, a large picture
book was in her small, scar covered hands, and those
red on black eyes slowly scanning all of the pictures
inside of it. She narrowed those lovely red on black
eyes as she viewed the words that were in the white
boxes, below the pictures, trying to sound them out in
her head and understand what they meant. Alisa
remembered when Remy was there last time, to help her
with those big words, and sound out the others, but he
had to go home to heal, and now she was alone, again.
She removed one of her small hands from the book and
brushed a strand of long, auburn hair away from her
face, placing it behind her ear as she tried her best
to read the book on her own. But soon, her
concentration was interrupted by a sound outside her
bedroom window, a sound of tree branches moving about,
as if there was a strong wind outside.

Alisa placed down her book on the round table of her
room and slowly moved over to her window, taking a
look outside of it. Perhaps a bird flew up into the
tree to go to it's nest, or a squirrel was leaping
from branch to branch, looking for nuts. She liked
looking at fuzzy animals at play or birds with their
beautiful feathers fly about outside of her window,
but now, she found something she didn't like to see.
Something that frightened her badly, enough to make
her back away from her window and hide in a corner of
her bedroom... the monster from her dreams was outside
her window, and sitting in that tree outside of it,
smirking as he watched her huddle up in a corner of
her room, and begin to cry. The monster from her
dreams had returned...

*****

" Remy? Kiddo, you're scarin' me here." Logan started
walking toward the young Cajun, he seemed caught in a
nightmare and Logan had no idea how to pull him out of
it. He rested his hand on Remy's arm, "Rem..."

Remy finally made eye contact with his lover, " He
found her... Sabertooth found Alisa." the words came
out as a dry whisper, as if all moisture had been
sucked from the boy's mouth and throat. Suddenly his
eyes became frantic, " We have t' save her! We have t'
go there before..." He was holding onto Logan as if he
was drowning and Logan was the only one around that
could save him.

Logan was growling deep in his throat, never again. No
way he was gonna let that bastard hurt that sweet kid.
No way would the monster get anywhere NEAR his family
again! He needed more information but Remy was nearly
hysterical. He could see the panic rising in the kid's
eyes. They practically screamed It would happen again!
Alisa was alone and scared and totally unable to
protect herself and the monster knew where! Logan
grabbed his arms and shook him once, hard. " Calm
down! Tell me what's going on!"

Remy was trembling so bad Logan had to help him to
sit. He went to the little bathroom and came back with
a glass of water. Remy took it in a shaking hand as
Logan picked up the phone and replaced it in the
receiver. After he took a sip and Logan sat down
beside him he fell against the man and fought hard to
control the helplessness that threatened to swallow
him. " That was th' school." He took another sip of
water and unconsciously burrowed deeper into his
lover's embrace. " Alisa..." he tried to say it, to
tell his lover that the nightmare was starting all
over but couldn't form the words. He started again,
"
Rebecca found her in th' corner o' her room. She was
s' scared she couldn' talk. sh-she thought 'lisa had
'nother nightmare but 'lisa kept pointin' toward th'
window..."

Logan held his lover tighter, Damn it! He'd been hurt
enough, what kind of God tortured people like this!
"Go on darlin', try to tell me what happened."

Remy nodded against his shoulder and continued,
" Rebecca called Sister Mary Rose t' sit with 'lisa
an' she went outside... there were... there were claw
marks in th' tree."

Remy lost his battle with the fear and Logan heard a
quiet sob. He rubbed up and down the long, graceful
back then tipped his chin up to meet his teary eyes,
" Let's go tell Chuck we're takin' the 'Bird. Let's go
get her."

Remy fell against him so relieved he couldn't speak.
Logan would fix this! He was of no help to his sister
any more as a protector but Logan was! " Oui, merci,"
he finally managed to whisper.

Logan handed him his cane but he wasn't entirely
sure the boy would be able to walk, shaking as much as
he was, but Remy slowly stood and together they made
their way to the Professor's office to explain what
was happening.

*****

Charles sensed them before they reached the door. Remy
was frightened, like a small child after a nightmare.
Logan was determined and on his way to becoming feral.
He put the book he was reading down and waited for the
knock on the door," Come in gentlemen."

Logan opened the door and waited for Remy to enter
before he closed it again, " Chuck, we're gonna need
the Bird. Creed found the kid's sister and we gotta
get her out o' there now."

His voice was half growl and Charles knew from the
sound of him that there was no sense trying to talk to
him. He looked more closely at Remy and understood the
concern that was pouring off the shorter man. The
young Cajun wasn't even trying to hide his distress.
"The Blackbird is in the middle of an inspection and
won't be available until tomorrow morning."

Remy made a little sound, like prey cornered by a
might be too late! They needed to be there now! Alisa
was in danger!

Logan caught the look and went to his lover, he
Then we'll take the Raven." The Raven was a smaller
plane, not as fast or fancy, but it would still out
fly anything else in the air.

" Logan, I understand your concern and I share it, but
you will have to wait. Bobby damaged the Raven the
last time he took it out."

Logan cursed under his breath and kissed the side of
the Cajun's neck. They were stuck there until the
inspection."

They turned to leave and the Professor called out,
" Good luck."

*****

In the kitchen Remy was on the phone and Logan was
filling two mugs with strong, black coffee. Remy
slammed down the phone. " He won' help!" He called his
father hoping he would go pick up Alisa. The Thieves
Guild was more than capable of protecting his sister
until he could get to her. " He said he was in th'
middle o' somethin' important an' he couldn' get away.
Cher... what we gonna do?"

Logan sat the mug in front of his lover and sat down.
He was about to speak when the entire team entered for
lunch.

"Good afternoon Remy, Logan." Storm moved immediately
to her brother and kissed him. She stopped as she
started to straighten, Remy looked like he'd seen a
ghost. She slipped into the seat beside him, "Remy,
what
is wrong? Has something happened?"

Logan saw that Remy was in no shape to answer and took
over, " Creed found his sister. We're goin' down to
bring her here as soon as the 'Bird's put back
together."

" Goddess!" She placed her hand on Remy's, " She will
be fine," she decided to try to cheer her brother up,
" It will be so wonderful to see Alisa again!"

" It will be fun having a child in the house again,"
Jean added with a smile. " I want to babysit."

"Are you sure it is wise to bring her here now?" Hank
was listening intently to the conversation. He wasn't
at all convinced Remy was well enough yet to handle
raising a small child and that's what it sounded like
he intended to do. " I am not trying to say you
shouldn't take care of your darling sister and I will
help you in anyway I can...I just have concerns about
your ability in your current condition."

"M' condition don' matter! She's comin' here where I
know she's safe. Y'all are just gonna have t' deal."
Remy's fear and frustration got the better of him, "
Y' don' understand!" he slammed his mug down on the
table, " 'lisa is 14 years old! She was funny and
smart and perfectly normal 'til Creed decided t' play
with her! He did it 'cause o' me! " He stopped his
rant and slumped forward, placing his head in his
hands, " Now she's got the mind o' a 4 year old. She
can' read... she can hardly write... she used to paint
with water colors now she paints with finger paints!
She's in trouble and I WILL be there for her this
time. I WILL keep her safe!"

Scott, like everyone else was silent. They had no idea
they were discussing a teenager. Remy had never let it
slip that anything so horrific had happened to his
sister. He understood Remy's concern and shared it,
but he also agreed with Hank, Remy was in no shape to
look after a child.

Bobby bit his tongue to keep from making the comment
that he was about to make. Picking on the Cajun wasn't
as fun as it used to be. Since he got hurt and nearly
died Bobby found himself trying to understand the
younger man instead of harrassing him. The things he
found out didn't jive with the person he thought he
knew. Remy shouldn't love as deeply as he obviously
did. Remy shouldn't care as much as he cared. He
needed to get out of the house and figure out what he
was going to do with this new knowledge. " Hey Remy,
it would be okay I guess if your sister came to stay
for awhile." Bobby swore he saw a flash of relief
cross the Cajun's face for his little show of support.
No... this was definitely not the Remy he thought he
knew.

Warren kept his mouth shut as long as he could, "NO!
This isn't a day care! What are we gonna do
with a retarded kid! We already have ONE LeBeau around
here who's useless, why do we have to have
another!" The X-men were too shocked to speak. There
was never any doubt about how Warren felt about
Remy but to hear him attack an innocent child was
unforgivable. " I mean it! Why does the kid have to
come here? Shouldn't it be in some kind of school for
retards." He smirked when he saw the Cajun pale.

" Do you know what dey do to kids like her in
hospitals!? Dey put her t'rough shock therapy, dey
made her take medication dey left her life-less an'
nuthin'
more den a droolin' vegetable! She's already in de
best school in de country fer people wit' her
condition, an'
Sabretooth found her! She can' stay dere non more,
because he might jus' finish what he started! An' don'
you dare call her a retard! She's jus' different!"
Logan smiled, Remy was standing up for himself, good.
Wings was gonna be a problem but he was just a fly
compared to Creed. He patted Remy on the shoulder,
silently telling the kid he was proud of him.

Warren was outraged. As he looked around the room he
saw the rest of his so called friends nodding in
agreement, how could they be taking the Cajun's side?
He was a traitor for crying out loud! Now he wanted to
bring in his younger sister, a retard who would
probably need help all the time. "We aren't going to
babysit your stupid sister, Cajun! You can take care
of her all by yourself, since you are uselss to the
team now. Besides, we X-Men have more important things
to do than to watch over your ass and your nut-case
sister!"

"She ain' a nut-case! Ah told yah, she jus' different!
She can' 'elp de way she is! Sabretooth damaged her
badly, an' now she stuck de ay she is! De X-Men
supposed to 'elp others, or did you ferget
dat,Warren!? An' ah don' need any o'you to take care
o' Alisa! Ah can do it on mah own! It always felt like
ah took care o' her on mah own, anyway, so ah used to
it!" Remy barked out. Warren was really striking a
nerve with him, and Logan could easily see it, as well
as the other X-Men. He looked as if he were about to
cry. How dare Warren say such things! He never met his
sister, and the X-Men were supposed to protect others
who were weaker than them!

Warren was about to open his mouth to say more, "That
is enough!" Came a voice from the hallway. Professor
Xavier slowly wheeled himself into the kitchen, he
read the next thing Warren was about to say and
couldn't remain quiet any longer. He'd been listening
to his students and was pleased with the way they
reacted to the news. He too was surprised when he
realized that the girl was a teenager."Warren, Remy is
right, I created the X-Men to help those in need, and
his sister is in need of protection from us. If
Sabretooth were to get his hands on her again I fear
she would not survive the experience. Logan, Remy...
once Alisa arrives at the mansion, I would like Hank
to have a look at her to see the extent of her
physical injuries, while Jean shall give her some
therapy to examine how bad her mind was damaged. As
for you, Warren, I would like to speak with you in my
office about your current behavior."

Warren gave Remy a look as he got up and followed
Xavier out of the kitchen. He blocked his thoughts
from Xavier, as they left. All he wanted now was to
get back at that traitor for making him look bad in
front of the Professor and other X-Men. He would pay,
and so would his retard sister.

After Warren was gone the rest of the X-men wandered
out slowly. Logan was whispering something into Remy's
ear as he gently rubbed circles on his back. Scott and
Jean were obviously in a telepathic conversation so
Bobby made a sandwich and left for his room to try and
make sense of his former friend Warren. How could he
attack a child like that? Remy was right to be upset
and pissed off. Warren was lucky Wolverine didn't
slice him to bits! He was going to grab Hank but his
best friend and Storm looked deep in a conversation so
he just shrugged and left

"Storm, why did you not tell us of the dear child's
condition, you were the one who accompanied Remy down
on his last trip?"

Ro glanced at Remy and smiled, her brother was in good
hands so she turned to Hank, " My brother is a private
person Henry, I didn't feel it was my place to say
anything. She is a wonderful child, you will adore
her."

Hank smiled, the idea of having a young person
around was growing on him, " If you get the chance
before I do, please tell Remy I am most anxious to
meet the young lady. If she is anything at all like
her brother the mansion should soon be a much more
interesting place."

Storm smiled again, " She is understandably quite shy,
but once she understands that she has no reason to
fear
you she will steal your heart."

Remy had an old saying for himself, which he thought

could be used at this time. "A Cajun with the luck of
the Irish", he would use to say, and in this case, he
was damn lucky. The Blackbird's repairs finished
early, so Logan and himself took the large jet and set
out for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was finally going
to pick up his sister and bring her home.

Logan watched his young lover as he placed the auto
pilot controls on the plane. He could see the fear and
sadness on that chiseled face of his, making him look
like a Gothic statue of a man. He made his way over to
Remy, placing a strong hand on his shoulder and
looking down at him. "Kid, we're gonna be landing in a
few minutes. As soon as we do, I'm gonna check the
hospital grounds fer Creed's scent. I just wanna make
sure that you an' yer sister are safe while we're
there."

"Oui, t'ank you, Logan... ah jus' ... ah jus' wished
ah could be o' more 'elp ta yah." Remy took his
lover's hand and placed a feather soft kiss upon it,
his exotic eyes were filled with much concern as they
looked at his lover.

"Kid you are helping, yer takin' care of Alisa while
I
look fer that hair ball." Logan couldn't help but
smile when he felt his lover's lips upon the back of
his rough, hairy hand. How much a gentlemen Remy
LeBeau was, even when extremely worried and depressed.
"I swear, Rems, I won't let him touch her or you ever
again. Not while I'm around, kid."

The handsome Cajun couldn't help but look up at his
lover with a small smile on his face. Logan was always
willing to protect him and his sister, no matter what
the costs. He had even avenged Alisa once already,
after they had learned that Sabretooth had attacked
and sexually assaulted her. While Remy went into
battle with Vargas, who set up the entire thing, Logan
was battling Creed, ramming his claws right into the
monster's heart and nearly slicing his head off. He
never thought he could have survived this attack, but
apparently, he had done so. Now Creed was back, and
haunting his victim, one of his youngest victims to be
exact.

"T'ank you... you 'ave non idea 'ow much dat mean to
me, Logan... she been t'rough enough already. Ah don'
wan' her to be hurt again. 'lisa an' Papa be de only
family ah got..." Remy's voice was shaking as he spoke
to the love of his life, even a few tears escaping his
eyes as he spoke.

"You know that ain' true, Cajun. You got me now, and
the X-Men... " The Canadian's lips moved over, kissing
the salty tears from Remy's face, trying to reassure
him things would be alright, again."No more tears,
Rem. You know I'd do anything fer you an' yer sister
in a heartbeat." He could feel the plane already
starting
to land. they had finally landed at their destination.
"Looks like we're here, Cajun. You go inside an'
explain what's goin' on, an' I'll play bloodhound."

"Dis mean ah get to finally put you on a leash?" Remy
chuckled, slightly. Though upset and depressed, he
still maintained his wonderful sense of humor. He
started to get out of his chair with some help from
his lover,grabbing a cane by his side and walking with
it towards the door of the Blackbird.

"Keep it up, Rems, keep it up." Logan simply smirked
at his comment, as the two men left the Blackbird, and
started walking towards the Hospital. Once they
reached the doors, Logan went to talk with Rebecca and
go see where the bastard had been seen. In the
meantime,Remy just walked inside, to find his beloved
sister.

*****

Remy slowly walked into the hospital, he could hear
Alisa crying and sniffling as soon as he walked in.
Why was Sabertooth doing this to her? Had he not done
enough to her body and mind!? Remy reached her room,
looking as Alisa sat in bed, her face buried in
her Mister Kitty Head's body, and that fragile body
shaking violently from the sobs that came out of her.
With his cane, he walked all the way in the room and
sat on the bed next to her. The sight he saw was
tearing him apart inside! Remy gently moved his large
hand to touch Alisa's soft, auburn hair, thinking it
would calm her down a bit. But he was wrong. His heart
sank as she instantly flinched and moved away from
him.

"Petite... it's Remy... please... calm down, Peanut.
Ah'm here... de monster, he ain' gonna hurt you. Uncle
Logan is outside, an' he lookin' fer him." Remy tried
to sound as soothing as he could, trying to coax his
younger sister to calm down. He wanted to cry himself,
seeing how much pain she was in. What did she ever do
wrong to deserve this. Perhaps some good news will
cheer her up... "We gonna go home, ptite... yer gonna
come home wit' me, today. Uncle logan an' ah won' let
de monster hurt you non more... we gonna protect
you."
 

" We... goin'... home?" Alisa looked stunned, as if
she didn't fully understand what he said. Her red on
black eyes, the ones that mirrored his, lifted up from
her stuffed cat's body as she turned to look over at
her brother. He looked so sad... why was he so sad?
"We
gonna go home... we gonna be a family again? Papa
wants me to come home?"

Remy's jaw dropped when Alisa had asked this question.
She still loved Jean Luc LeBeau, even though he had
abandoned her at another hospital. His father even
went as far as to permit them to give her a
hysterectamy and shock therapy, thinking it would make
her "better". His own eyes saddened as he spoke to
her,
once more, in a very soft voice. "Non... it jus'
gonna be you, me, an' Uncle Logan... dere gonna be a
few other people dere, but dey won' hurt you. Dey
really nice an' will treat you like you apart o' dere
family."

"Popa... don' wan' mah, non more? Why? What did ah do
wrong, big broder? Please tell mah what ah did
wrong an' ah'll be better... ah won' do it ever
again... ah jus' wan' poppa to love me..." When Remy
heard her say this, it broke his heart. She thought
she did something wrong, and that his father didn't
love her anymore because of it. Alisa whimpered and
wrapped her scar covered arms around her knees,
dropping her stuffed cat, and crying again.

The handsome Cajun carefully grabbed Mister Kitty Head
up and off of the ground. He looked at the stuffed
cat, and back to his sobbing sister. She wasn't
supposed to be in pain like this, anymore. She was
supposed to be happy and cheerful, but that never
seemed to happen. He gently placed the cat on her
shoulder and made it talk for her, in an attempt to
calm her down. "But Alisa, Remy loves you very much...
an' he wants you to be apart o' his family. you never
gonna be alone or in a hospital, again. He an' Uncle
Logan gonna take very good care o' you an' love you
non matter what! Please trust him, for me?"

Her frail looking body turned to the stuffed cat on
her shoulder and the tears rolled down her scar
covered face could now be seen. A sight to break
anyone's heart. "You mean it? Non more Hospitals? Ah
can stay wit' Remy an' Uncle Logan... an' dey won' put
me in another hospital, again, ever?"

Remy smiled as he made the stuffed cat talk to her
once more. He had often done this to calm down his
sister,and it worked like a charm, being she had such
a child like mind. "O'course! You'll 'ave yer own room
an' a tire swing ta play on. You'll never be alone or
in another hospital again. You'll be happy, ah
promise."
 

A small smile came across Alisa's face, for it was all
she could manage, due to muscle damage from her attack
by Sabertooth. She hugged her stuffed cat, then moved
over to hug Remy. "Ah'm gonna be happy.. Mister
Kitty Head promised ah would be happy... an' you did,
too... so ah believe you, both... can you 'elp me
pack, big broder? Ah don' got much stuff o' mah
own...

"Sure... as long as it non too heavy, petite. An' ah
know you don' got much stuff, but once we get to yer
new home wit' me an' Uncle Logan, we'll buy you new
t'ings. You'll 'ave everyt'ing you ever wanted...
well... almost."

"Ah want mah own flower garden, Remy... ah like
flowers... an' Rebecca taught me how to water dem."
Alisa said as she quickly got off of her bed and
nearly ran to her closet. She opened up her closet
door, taking out a few dresses, which was all she
basically had. "Dem smell pretty, too... "

"Oui... oui ah can manage to 'elp you make a nice lil'
flower garden. We can care fer it tagether, an' maybe
Stormy can 'elp us! You 'member Stormy, don' you? "
Remy gave off one of his famous smiles, watching as
Alisa placed her dresses on the bed by his side. She
then started to take out a small suitcase from her
closet,so she could put them in. All while nodding her
head yes, that she remembered his friend Storm. "What
kinda flowers you want, Peanut?"

" Ah want pu tunas!" She said, happily, forcing a
laugh out of Remy on how she pronounced the word. In a
way it was sad, because it was part of her mental
condition, which made her out to be like a four year
old, but it was also very cute, as well.

"You mean Putuinas, petite. Sure, we can get a bunch
o' dem. How about some carnations, too? Dey kinda
pretty."

"How about a Sunflower... dey grow to be bigger den
you an' Uncle Logan... plus we can eat de seeds!"
Already, Alisa had placed most of her belongings into
the small suitcase she had. All that was left were a
few stuffed animals, but Alisa figured she could get a
bag for those. "An' ... an' we can get some daisies...
dey very pretty..."

"Oui... dey are pretty, but non as pretty as you,
Peanut. Nuthin' could compare to 'ow beautiful you
are." Remy spoke that in truth and to try and raise
his sister's self esteem. Since Sabertooth had
attacked her, she was left with horrible scars all
over her body. People often stared or made fun of her
for them. Even nurses at her old hospital made rude
comments about her scars, and it hurt Alisa badly.
Logan and himself would often tell her she was
beautiful, and spoke it out of truth, as did the
nurses and teachers at the school she was leaving now.
" You almost done, Peanut... Uncle Logan probably
waitin' fer us outside. We gonna go in a big plane to
yer new home!"
 

Logan finally walked inside of the room, moving over
to Remy as Alisa had started to place her stuffed
animals in a plastic bag she had found in the room. He
let out a slight sigh as he whispered in Remy's ear.
"Creed was here, Rems... and recently, too. The
bastard got off on watchin' Alisa screamin' in
fear..."

Remy turned and looked at Logan, enraged over the news
he had just been told, but quickly calmed himself
down, as to not scare his sister. He whispered back to
Logan as they watched her packing up her stuffed
animals. "Logan, she don' 'ave much o' anyt'ing... mah
father only sent up four o' her dresses an' nuthin'
more...de rest o' her stuff was given to her by you
an' me. she t'ought he didn' love her... an' ah'm
worried he really doesn' ."

"Darlin' ... I ain' sure what yer father loves or
doesn' , but I'm sure he's got a spot in there fer
Alisa. She's a good kid, and we are gonna give her all
the love she needs." Logan smiled at his young lover,
sneaking in a kiss before Alisa turned to the two,
looking at them, and over at Rebecca and Sister Mary
Rose, who had just walked in to say good-bye.

"We are going to miss you very much, Alisa" Rebecca
spoke softly, a few tears escaping her eyes as she
moved over and hugged the young girl. "You'll have to
write to us and tell you how things are in your new
home! I'm sure your brother will help you write
letters like I did."

"Oui, 'Becca... Remy will 'elp mah write letters...
Remy 'elps me wit' a lot o' t'ings!" Alisa wrapped her
arms around her now former nurse, a smile still
plastered upon her face as she hugged her. She was
finally going home! No more hospitals, no more scary
men in white clothes, and no more waiting to see Remy
and Uncle Logan!

"I'm sure he will, child. Now you promise to be a good
girl for us!" Sister Mary Rose, the elderly nun that
had attempted teach Alisa to read and write again,
held out her arms for her, and she too was embraced by
the now cheerful girl.

"Ah promise, Sister... ah promise ta be a good lil'
girl!" Alisa spoke from the heart, which mad Remy
smile, along with Logan. How innocent she was in mind
and soul.

"Ah'm sure she gonna be a very good lil' gal,
Sister... t'ank you all fer takin' care o' her so
well. You 'ave non idea 'ow much it means ta mah an'
Logan." Remy smiled as he walked over and held Alisa's
hand in his, slowly starting to walk out of the room,
while Alisa was waving good-bye to the people whom had
cared for her."T'ank you, again... we'll write to
you!"

"Bye, Sister! Bye, 'Becca!" And with that, Logan,
Remy, and Alisa left the room, and headed outside
towards the Blackbird. Alisa was trying to skip along,
but was worried that would harm her brother since his
leg and back were still hurt. Logan couldn't help but
smile from ear to ear as he carried the young girl's
luggage onto the large plane, and listen to her
talking away with Remy. He felt like his small family
was now
getting larger.

*****

Sister Mary Rose watched the large plane leave from a
distance of the hospital. A smirk came across her
elderly face as it slowly shifted into that of the
Mutant known as Mystique. She was enraged. How could
her beautiful daughter's life be worth less than the
lives of those two beings that Logan was in love
with!? One was nothing more than a male whore and
traitor, while the other was a nut-case. No matter,
things seemed to be falling into place, as she picked
up her communicator from her belt and spoke into it.

"They are going back to New York. Let's give them a
few days before we attack Logan's new family. I will
take care of Logan personally, you can have the two
Cajuns, seeing how you enjoy them so much, Creed." And
with that, she slowly started to walk off, thinking of
how to get revenge on the man who ruined her family,
and took away her best friend, her daughter Rogue.

*****

END CHAPTER 1